Waxing or paraffining apparatus for yarn winders

ABSTRACT

To hold a cylindrical paraffin body in centered relationship with respect to its housing, and in predetermined position with respect to a thread to be waxed, a cylindrical body of paraffin is rotated, and pressed by spring pressure against a blunt, or shallow conical counter surface, the point of the cone providing a centering point for the cylindrical wax body.

ilnited States Patent 1191 184/15 R; 51/1 NQ; 33/1 NQ Keller A 1'. 9, 1974 WAXING 0R PARAFFINING APPARATUS [56] References Cited FOR YARN WINDERS UNITED STATES PATENTS v[75] Inventor: Emil Koller, Wadenswil, 1,546,301 7/1925 Mathes 118/78 S i l 3,306,253 2/1967 Frentzel-Beymeu... 118/78 X 3,358,641 12/1967 Feller 118/78 [73] Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Schweiter A.G-, 3,479,988 11/1969 Trost 118/78 Horgen, Switzerland Primary Examiner-Morris Kaplan [221 Filed 1972 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Flynn & Frishauf [21] Appl. No.: 307,805

[57] ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application p i Data To hold a cylindrical paraffin body in centered rela- V 1 tionship with respect to its housing, and in predeter- July 7, 1972 Switzerland 10241/72 mined position with respect to a thread to be Waxed a [52] U S CI 118/78 184/15 R cylindrical body of paraffin is rotated, and pressed by [51] liosc 11/00 spring pressure against a blunt, or shallow conical [58] Fieid 1 17/120, counter surface, the point of the cone providing a centering point for the cylindrical wax body. 8 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures WAXHNG GR PARAFFINING APPARATUS FOR YARN WINDERS The present invention relates to a waxing or paraffining apparatusfor yarn winders, or spooling machines, and more particularly to an improvement of the type of machine disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 3,358,641 assigned to the assignee of the present application.

It has previously been proposed see specifically the cross referenced patent to provide an essentially cylindrical body of paraffin or wax and axially feed this body towards one end face, which has a counter surface bearing thereagainst, a yarn or thread being passed between the bearing surface and the end face of the cylindrical body. The cylindrical body itself is rotated, in order to apply a predetermined and measured amount of paraffin or wax to the yarn passing between the end face of the cylindrical body and the counter surface.

It has been found in use, and particularly as speeds of spooling increase to higher and higher levels, that the paraffin body may not be securely guided with respect to centricity. The diameter of the paraffin body must have a certain size in order to permit easy mounting of this body on a central core. As a result, as the paraffin body is used up, and becomes shorter and shorter, it has the tendency to wobble, resulting in wavy appearance of the end face of the paraffin cylinder which is in contact with the yarn. Waviness will result in uneven application of wax on the yarn, or otherwise loss of control of application.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a paraffining, or waxing apparatus of the type previously disclosed in the aforementioned US. patent, and particularly which is compatible with it, so that the entire apparatus need not be replaced, and which permits high speed operation and avoids the difficulty arising with wobble, or loss of centricity of the paraffining body.

Subject matter of the present invention: Briefly, the counter surface against which the paraffin or wax body bears is formed to be conical, preferably comparatively bluntly, so as to provide a clearly defined center point for the paraffin body.

In a preferred form, the counter surface against which the cylindrical parafiining body bears is formed of a pair of elements, one having a substantially larger counter surface than the other. In effect, one counter surface is formed with a recess, or notch, or a removed area, this removed area being filled by the second counter surface. The arrangement is so made that the larger counter surface at least partially surrounds the smaller; the smaller counter surface, preferably, is located outside of the center of the counter surface, that is, beyond the center point of the cone and to one side thereof. The apparatus permits precise centering of the paraffin body on its axis of rotation independent of its axial length, and to maintain the pressure of application against the counter surface, which is resiliently supported, at a constant and even force, to ensure uniform application of wax on the yarn.

In accordance with a feature of the invention, essentially radially extending ribs, starting from the center point of the cone, are formed on the larger one of the bearing surfaces, so that the area of contact of the thread with respect to the counter surface is restricted to a minimum, thus decreasing friction on the thread and resulting contamination of the contact surface of FIG. I is a generally schematic, longitudinal crosssectional view through the apparatus of the present invention;

and FIG. 2 is a cross section along line IIII of FIG. 1.

The paraffin body 38 bears against a counter element generally shown at 11. The counter element ll has a pair of parallel, relatively offset bores 2, 3,. extending axially therethrough, the axes extending generally horizontally and transverse to the path of the thread F (FIG. 2). A bolt 4 with a shoulder is axially slidably located in bore 2. A spring 5 presses the bolt 4 outwardly, that is upwardly in FIG. 1. The inner end of bolt 4, which extends from the bore 2; has a counter, or abutment body 6 secured thereto by means of a pin 7. This body 6 may be plug-like (see FIG. 2). The axial slidable distance of bolt 4 is limited on the one hand by the counter body 6 and on the other by a button or head 8 on the bolt 4 which engages a shoulder 2 of the bore.

Bore 3 has two sleeves 9, 10 located therein, axially slidable, which are held spaced from each other by a compression spring ll. Sleeve 9 has an end 9' of reduced diameter, to which a counter element or counter body 14 is secured by means of a sleeve extension and cross pin arrangement, located within space 12. The arrangement is so taken that there is a small amount of play between the sleeves and the counter element in order to provide for a limited movement of the counter body 14. The axial shift of the sleeve 9 is limited to such an extent that the counter surface 141, at the bottom side (FIG. I) of the counterbody 14 can extend, or retract with respect to the counter surface (6 of the counter body 6 by a slight distance. The sleeve 116D bears with its outer end surface against a helically rising surface 15 of a rotatable adjustment knob H6, which is secured by means of a holding screw 17 to the apparatus l, and can be locked in relatively adjusted position.

A lever 18 is rotatably mounted on a pin 19, secured in fixed relation with respect to the apparatus, for example at the holding bracket therefor. Pin 19 also secures a second lever 20 which is connected to lever 18 by means of a tension spring 21, so that the extension pin 20 on lever 20 is pressed against an abutment surface 18 of lever 18. Lever 20 is connected to the stop motion device of the winding machine by means of a control link 22 and other linkage, or transmission devices, which may be mechanical, electrical, magnetic, electromagnetic, hydraulic or the like. The stop motion, or other control apparatus is controlled by the specific spooling spindle and may include, for example, a cam disk which moves the link 22 in the direction of the arrow upon detection of operating interference, or other reasons for removing of operating defects. The cam disk, or the like moves the levers .18, 2f) in counter-clockwise direction, thus shifting the body 6 counter the action of the spring 5. Spring 2th compensates for any excess motion of link 22.

The apparatus is held in position on a support 24 which is connected to a machine element. The support 24 itself is movable from the position shown in FIG. 1, and can be swung out from its position into the plane of the paper in order to permit exchange of the paraffin body 38 for a new one, when it is worn. Support 24 retains a drive shaft 28 by means of a pair of ball bearings 29. It is retained in axial position by elements well known in the art, such as C-rings, distance sleeve spacers, a nut, or the like (not shown). A drive pulley 30 is connected to shaft 28 to rotate therewith. The free end 28 of shaft 28 has a sleeve-like extension pin 31 extending therefrom to form a core or central holding element for the paraffin body 38. The core 31 is longitudinally slidable, a spring 32 within the bore of core 31 bearing against the end face of drive shaft 28. Core 31 is connected by means of a pin 33 with the shaft 28 so as to rotate therewith. The pin 33 is retained in the sleeve of the core 31 by an elongated opening so that the sleeve is axially slidable on the shaft 28. Spring 32 retains the sleeve 31 in its outer end position. Sleeve 31 has an outer cross section which is square (see FIG. 2, chain-dotted lines) and, at its bottom, is secured to a guide disk 37 which has a hub shaped to accept the core 31 and is longitudinally slidable thereover. Core 21 retains the paraffin body 38 to be longitudinally slidable thereon, engaged by the square outer aspect of the core 31, which matches a square hole in the paraffin body 38. A compression spring 39 is located between the guide disk 37 and the drive pulley 30, and tends to bias the guide disk 37 in upward direction (FIG. 1) towards the counter elements 6 and 14.

The paraffin body 38 is positively centered. It is guided by a guide disk 37 and, since the two counter elements 6, 14, form counter surfaces 6', 14, of conical shape, a centering point is formed for the paraffin body 38, as clearly appears in FIG. 1. The paraffin body itself is formed with a suitable matching depression into which the cone formed by the counter elements 6, 14, fits.

The cone is comparatively shallow, or blunt, and a tip angle in the order of 150 is suitable, although this angle is not critical and may be more or less.

The guide surface 14, as clearly appears from FIG. 2, has circular cross section and is substantially larger than the guide surface 6' of the counter element 6. The cross section of the counter element 6 is preferably also circular. The counter surface 14' is formed with a recess, or cut-out, or hollow 50, which is so shaped that the remainder of the surface 14 surrounds, at least in part, the surface 6'. The circumference of the counter element 6 is so selected that some distance A will remain between the circumference of the surface 6 and the center, or point of the cone formed by the entire, composite counter surface 6' and 14.

The counter surface 14 is formed with three ribs 1 14 which extend generally radially from the center, or point of the cone outwardly and which are provided to press the thread F, under the affect of spring 11, against the paraffin body 38. These ribs are preferably shallow and may be slightly S-shaped, as clearly appears from FIG. 2, the ribs at least partly surrounding the body 6, at its surface 6, and lying adjacent the edge of the surface 14.

Operation: FIG. 1 illustrates the normal operating position, that is the working position of the various parts. Spring 39 which has a very flat characteristic presses the disk 37, and hence the cylindrical paraffin body 38 against the counter elements 6, 14, so that the cylindrical element 38 will bear against the surfaces 6', 14', that is, against the surface region 1' of the counter body 1. Wear and use of the wax or paraffin body 38 is compensated by spring 39, which feeds the body 38 axially. The counter element 6 is additionally pressed by spring 5 against the zone 1, so that the position of the surface 6' is retained without change. Thus, the position of the end surface of paraffin body 38, from which the paraffin or wax is delivered, remains relatively unchanged, and the position of the end surface 14', or the ribs 114, respectively, between which the thread F to be waxed runs, remains relatively unchanged. The force with which the counter element 14 is pressed against the paraffin body 38 is determined by the compression spring 11, which is adjustable, by rotating the adjustment knob 16 with its helically rising surface 15, thus changing the axial position of sleeve 10 and with it the bias of the compression spring 11. The plane at which the waxing occurs remains unchanged, so that the compression spring 11 always will be at the same spring position, thus providing for compressive force of the counter body 14 against the body 38 which is steady, and independent of the length of the parafiin body 38. As a result, the degree of wear of the paraffin body, that is, use of the paraffin during waxing remains at a constant rate and permits working with smallest compressive forces. This ensures uniform economical application of wax. The characteristics, and the force of spring 39 should be so selected that for any operating position its force of application is greater than that of the spring 11.

The paraffin body 38 is driven by driving the pulley 30; the paraffin body is simultaneously precisely centered by the conical surfaces 6 and 14'.

In case the thread should break, link 22 is pulled to the right by a stop motion device, not shown, thus rotating the lever arm 20 and, over spring 21, lever arm 18 in counter-clockwise direction. Lever 18 will then press with its nose 18" against the counter body 6 to press counter body 6 in opposite direction to the spring 5, together with the paraffin body 38 and against spring 39 downwardly, until the head 8 of the bolt 4 engages the shoulder 2 in the counter unit 1. Moving the paraffin body axially downwardly (FIG. 1) causes eventually engagement of the body 6 against the pin 31 to also move the pin or core 31 counter the spring 32. The counter body 14 will follow, due to the spring 1 1, until the sleeve 9, with its shoulder, engages shoulder 3 in the counter unit 1. The body of wax or paraffin 38 is pressed downwardly farther, by engagement of element 6 against the center core 28 than the motion of element 14 to form a gap, between which the thread F, now spliced to the preceding or broken thread, can be inserted, or, to permit insertion of the thread between the ribs 114 and the paraffin body 38, respectively. After repair of the thread break, link 22 is released, and the spinning or spooling machine can be started again; all the elements are returned to their original position, as shown in the drawings, by means of the springs 5, 32 and 39 for continued operation.

To insert a new paraffin cylinder 38, the core 31 together with support 24 are swung sideways, or laterally, a new paraffin body is inserted on the core 31 and the core 31 with the new body is again swung into the working position, as shown. To positively seat the paraffin body, and get around the slant of the cone, the paraffin body can be depressed by hand against the force of the spring 39 to snap the paraffin body into positively centered position and in engagement with the composite conical surfaces 14', 6'.

Various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the inventive concept.

I claim:

1. In a waxing apparatus for yarn winders, a cylindrical body'of wax or paraffin,

means rotatably holding said cylindrical body;

spring means urgingsaid cylindrical body in axial direction;

a counter support means having a counter surface against which the cylindrical body is urged,

the improvement wherein the counter surface formed by said counter support means is generally of conical shape and forms a centering point for the body of wax or paraffin and said apparatus adapted for passage of yarn between the counter surface and said body.

2. In the apparatus of claim 1, the conical surface being blunt and having a cone point angle in the order of 150. 1

3. In the apparatus of claim 1, the counter support means comprising two counter support plugs, one having substantially more counter support surface than the other, the larger counter support plug being of generally conical form with an essentially cylindrical recess or cut-out and reaching around the recess, the smaller counter support plug fitting into said recess or cut-out and having a support surface matching the generally conical surface of the larger plug to form with the larger plug an essentially uniform conical surface,

and wherein the smaller support surface is generally located beyond the center of the conical support surface.

4. In the apparatus of claim 1, the counter support means comprising two counter support elements, one element having substantially more counter support surface than the other, the larger counter support element being of generally conical fonn with an essentially cylindrical cut-out reaching around the cut-out, the smaller counter support element fitting into said cutout and having a support surface matching the generally conical surface of the larger element to form with the larger element an essentially uniform conical surface, and axially extending ribs formed on the larger support element and extending from the center of the conical surface approximately radially.

5. In the apparatus of claim 4, at least some of the ribs being located at least in part adjacent the edge next to said cut-out.

6. In the apparatus of claim 4, at least one of the ribs extending in slightly S curve in their longitudinal extent from the center of the cone to the outer edge thereof.

7. In the apparatus of claim 4. wherein one of the ribs is located substantially adjacent the edges defining said cut-out. and extending from the center of the cone:

and another rib extends in part from the center of the cone a further edge portion of said cut-out. said other rib having a slightly S shaped curvature following said edge over part of its length.

8. In the apparatus of claim 4, wherein said ribs are shallow and project only slightly from the larger counter surface. 

1. In a waxing apparatus for yarn winders, a cylindrical body of wax or paraffin, means rotatably holding said cylindrical body; spring means urging said cylindrical body in axial direction; a counter support means having a counter surface against which the cylindrical body is urged, the improvement wherein the counter surface formed by said counter support means is generally of conical shape and forms a centering point for the body of wax or paraffin and said apparatus adapted for passage of yarn between the counter surface and said body.
 2. In the apparatus of claim 1, the conical surface being blunt and having a cone point angle in the order of 150*.
 3. In the apparatus of claim 1, the counter supporT means comprising two counter support plugs, one having substantially more counter support surface than the other, the larger counter support plug being of generally conical form with an essentially cylindrical recess or cut-out and reaching around the recess, the smaller counter support plug fitting into said recess or cut-out and having a support surface matching the generally conical surface of the larger plug to form with the larger plug an essentially uniform conical surface, and wherein the smaller support surface is generally located beyond the center of the conical support surface.
 4. In the apparatus of claim 1, the counter support means comprising two counter support elements, one element having substantially more counter support surface than the other, the larger counter support element being of generally conical form with an essentially cylindrical cut-out reaching around the cut-out, the smaller counter support element fitting into said cut-out and having a support surface matching the generally conical surface of the larger element to form with the larger element an essentially uniform conical surface, and axially extending ribs formed on the larger support element and extending from the center of the conical surface approximately radially.
 5. In the apparatus of claim 4, at least some of the ribs being located at least in part adjacent the edge next to said cut-out.
 6. In the apparatus of claim 4, at least one of the ribs extending in slightly ''''S'''' curve in their longitudinal extent from the center of the cone to the outer edge thereof.
 7. In the apparatus of claim 4, wherein one of the ribs is located substantially adjacent the edges defining said cut-out, and extending from the center of the cone; and another rib extends in part from the center of the cone a further edge portion of said cut-out, said other rib having a slightly ''''S'''' shaped curvature following said edge over part of its length.
 8. In the apparatus of claim 4, wherein said ribs are shallow and project only slightly from the larger counter surface. 